Living in Light of God’s Promise
“Wail for the day of the Lord is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty. (Isa. 13:6)
The passage above from the apostle’s letter pulses with urgency and hope—a call to remember, reflect, and respond as we anticipate “The Day of the Lord.” It is a message written not out of fear, but out of a desire to stir the hearts of believers toward wholesome thinking and holy living.
Remembering the Ancient Words
Twice, the letter’s author mentions his purpose: to remind. In a world easily swept away by forgetfulness and distraction, he urges the reader to recall the words spoken by the holy prophets and the commands of the Lord Jesus, faithfully passed down by the apostles. These are not mere words of the past; they are living truths that anchor us when the tides of culture and doubt rise.
The Reality of Scoffers and the Faithfulness of God
We are warned that in “the last days,” scoffers will come—people who mock the promise of Christ’s return and indulge their own desires. They question, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised?”—pointing to a world that appears unchanged and indifferent since the dawn of creation. Yet, the writer reminds us that such skepticism is willful forgetfulness. By God’s word, the heavens and the earth were formed; by that same command, judgment once came through the flood, and a day will come when the present world will face renewal by fire.
God’s Patience and the Mystery of Time
The passage contains one of Scripture’s most profound insights: “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” God’s timeline is not ours; what seems slow or delayed to us is measured by divine patience. The Lord’s apparent slowness is, in fact, mercy—his desire that none should perish, but that all would come to repentance.
The Day of the Lord: Sudden and Certain
The day will come “like a thief”—unexpected and unstoppable. The created order will be laid bare, and everything transient will be swept away. In this sobering truth emerges a question: “What kind of people ought you to be?” The answer is a call to live holy and godly lives, eager and ready for the day of God, not shrinking in fear but pressing forward with hope.
New Heavens, New Earth: The Hope of Righteousness
God’s promise is not merely destruction, but renewal. We look forward to “a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.” This is our hope and inheritance—a world remade, free from the stain of sin, filled with peace and justice.
How Then Should We Live?
Because we await this glorious future, we are called to make every effort to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with God. Our lives are to be lived in the light of his coming, shaped by grace and growing in knowledge. We are to be on guard against false teachings and lawlessness, standing firm in our secure position in Christ.
Patience, Wisdom, and Praise
The letter closes with a reminder that the Lord’s patience means salvation. Like Paul, whose letters also wrestle with these mysteries, we are encouraged to seek wisdom, to avoid the distortions of unstable minds, and to remain rooted in truth.
In all things, we are called to grow—in grace, in knowledge, and in praise. Our hope is not passive waiting, but active living: lives that reflect the glory of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, both now and forever.
To him be glory—both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Minister A Francine Green
September 2025
afrancinegreen.com 